By Rama Gaind
An inspiring body of work by these two entertainers will guarantee remarkable performances.
Sydney singer-songwriter Andy Bull and Melbourne indie pop songstress Owl Eyes will join forces for a string of dates in Sydney and Melbourne later this month and next month.
In 2009, Andy Bull released his impressive debut album We’re Too Young; a sprawling, imaginative collection of songs that earned him critical acclaim and the reputation amongst his contemporaries as Australia’s “songwriter’s songwriter”.
Less than a year later, Andy returned with The Phantom Pains EP a 6-track EP that casually defies the conventions he established for himself on his first release. Recording the EP in a single room with no separation between instruments, Andy and his long time producer Tony Buchen have discarded many of the formalities of the studio in favour of a raw sound that speaks to the vulnerability implicit in Andy’s lyrics.
The Phantom Pains EP is Andy’s most personal and exciting work thus far, and his musical contemporaries seem to agree, judging by the impressive list of friends who stopped by his house while he was recording it just to ‘do their bit’ and be a part of it all – a list that includes luminaries Lisa Mitchell, Little Red, Adrian Deutsch, Hungry Kids of Hungary and Deep Sea Arcade. The EP is available now.
Young Melbourne singer-
songwriter Owl Eyes will be co-headlining the tour following her performances at Hot BBQ and a cameo at Pyramid Rock Festival, as well as opening for Swedish indie-rock favourites The Shout Out Louds over summer.
Last year saw Owl Eyes launch her debut EP Faces, playing to a packed out room in her hometown of Melbourne and winning over new fans in Sydney.
The very sweet sounds of Owl Eyes have also been heard nationwide on the Illy track “It Can Wait” which has been getting high rotation spins on triple j, community and commercial radio and music video programs around the country. The first track from the EP “1+1” has also been getting a lot of love from triple j and community radio. Owl Eyes is undeniably talented and definitely worth seeing live!
Catch Andy Bull and Owl Eyes ‘live’ at the following dates and venues next month:
Wednesday, 23 February
Otis Bar, Wollongong, NSW
Tickets: Available over the bar and at the door.
Thursday, 24 February
Brass Monkey, Cronulla, NSW
Tickets: www.oztix.com.au & www.brassmonkey.com.au
Friday, 25 February
UNSW Beergarden, Sydney, NSW
Friday, 4 March
Pure Pop Records, St Kilda, VIC
Tickets: www.oztix.com.au
Saturday, 5 March
Toff in Town, Melbourne, VIC
Tickets: www.moshtix.com.au